A's Acquire Blanks from Padres

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There had been rumors of this pending trade but it was officially announced Thursday that the Oakland Athletics have indeed traded minor league outfielder Jake Goebbert and a player to be named later to the San Diego Padres for first baseman/outfielder Kyle Blanks. Blanks was just optioned to Triple-A El Paso on Wednesday to make room for Carlos Quentin, who was activated from the disabled list, on the roster. The right handed hitting Blanks is expected to platoon with lefty Brandon Moss at first base.

The A’s new first baseman has hit 28 home runs in just 715 MLB at-bats. In Blanks the Athletics have gotten a potential power hitter. The only problem is that he seems to have had trouble staying healthy. Since making his big league debut for the Padres on June 19, 2009, the most games he has played in, in a single season, was 88 in 2013.

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Why the A's Should Trade for a Starter

The A’s are looking good this season, despite losing their last two series to the Boston Red Sox and the Seattle Mariners. They are sitting atop the American League West with a 20-15 record and a game and a half lead over the second place Texas Rangers. So yes, they are not in any danger right now and are looking like playoff contenders.

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Besides the pitching of former closer Jim Johnson, the A’s pitching has been strong which has been a surprise to many since they lost two of their starters for the year to Tommy John Surgery, Jarrod Parker andA.J. Griffin. However their four and five starters have been slowing down the rest of the team. Not that Dan Straily orTommy Milone have been terrible but look at it this way, the A’s are 16-5 when their top three starters Sonny Gray, Scott Kazmir and Jesse Chavez pitch, when the other two and one time call up Josh Lindbloom have pitched the A’s have a record of 3-10. That means something needs to change at the back end of the rotation.

(*stats do not include Milone's eight inning gem last night, but let's face it ... he can be inconsistent that way and the premise of this story written before yesterday's game still stands*)

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Breaking News: Mets Trade Ike Davis to the Pirates

6:17 pm - Leaving for the A's game I'll update again later if there is news but it looks as though that is all that we are going to know about this breaking story for today ... still early here! Getting late on the East Coast! lol.

4:54 pm - Link to the initial (official) story with Ike Davis' reaction, updates still to come!

Here's initial news story with first quotes from Ike Davis. Hit refresh for more later. http://t.co/gm1IBuPK14 #mets #pirates
— Adam Rubin (@AdamRubinESPN) April 18, 2014

4:45 - More from Adam Rubin of ESPN New York on Ike's father's reaction:

Ex-Yank Ron Davis, Ike's dad, tells Matt Ehalt: "Why would you want to play for someone that didn't want you? They tried to get rid of him."
— Adam Rubin (@AdamRubinESPN) April 18, 2014

4:25pm - Heyman reports that the player to be name later may be significant

hearing the PTBNL in ike deal is fairly significant. so there's that. #mets #bucs
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) April 18, 2014

4:18 pm - More news on the trade regarding the financial aspects has been reported by ESPN's Adam Rubin via Twitter:

Ike Davis' salary this season was $3.5M, so there is $3.14 million owed this season by #Pirates. #mets
— Adam Rubin (@AdamRubinESPN) April 18, 2014

3:45 pm There have been rumors about a trade throughout the day between the Mets and the Pirates surrounding Mets' first baseman Ike Davis. It was officially reported that a trade has been made by CBS Sport's Jon Heyman via Twitter at 3:45pm Friday afternoon.

Ike Davis trade agreed to with pirates
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) April 18, 2014

Just minutes ago Heyman gave a few more details through his Twitter account. Davis was traded for pitcher Zach Thorton and a player to be named later. Heyman also reported that that player would most likely not be Tyler Thornburg or Eduardo Rodriguez but another player of lower value. I will keep you updated on this developing story here on Bullpen, Baseball & Sock Talk so stay tuned.

Tiger's Finally Find Shortstop in Angels' Romine

It was reported early Friday that the Detroit Tigers have finally found the shortstop they want to replace Jose Igelsias is out indefinitely with fractured shins. The Tigers had been looking around the league to acquire a shortstop and were linked to free agent Stephen Drew and both the Arizona Diamondbacks’ infielders Chris Owings and Didi Gregorious. Earlier in the week it was reported that the Diamonbacks were keeping Owings and shopping Gregorious but according to reports Friday, the shortstop position in Arizona may still be up for grabs. Owings is starting the opener and Gregorious the following day. Stephen Drew was called a bad fit for the Tigers by ESPN’s Buster Olney. They would most likely only have the veteran for one year and the Tigers would also have to forfeit a top draft pick to the Boston Red Sox if they were to decide to sign Drew.

Layne Murdoch/Getty Images

There is good news out of the Tigers’ camp Friday according to John Morosi at Fox Sports. The Tigers traded left-handed pitcher Jose Alverez to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for shortstop Andrew Romine. Romine is the son of former Boston Red Sox outfielder, Kevin Romine and the brother of New York Yankees catcher, Austin Romine.

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In Unexpected Blockbuster Trade Tigers send Fielder to Rangers for Kinsler!

The Detroit Tigers and the Texas Rangers agreed on this year's first and unexpected big blockbuster deal that will send Tigers first baseman, Prince Fielder to the Rangers for the Rangers' second baseman, Ian Kinsler. It's unexpected because Fielder would only be entering the third year of his nine year contract with the Tigers and Kinsler, considered one of the leagues elite second baseman, was still signed to four more years with the Rangers.

This is a done deal pending physicals and the approval of at least Fielder, who has a limited no trade clause in his nine year $214 million dollar deal with the Tigers and maybe the commissioner, Bud Selig. Kinsler makes considerably less and it was first reported by Yahoo! Sports Jeff Passan that the Rangers will also recieve $30 million dollars in cash to compensate the marked difference in salary.

Read the rest of my article on Sports Unbiased, your website for all Sports News, Polls and Predictions! (and my articles! lol)